“Who Are You In The Tarot” by Mary Greer is actually a reprint of “Tarot Constellations” which has been out of print for a long time.  When Weiser Books approached Greer to republish this book, she did an extensive revision of the original.

I never had the original.  So I am not quite sure what the revisions were – but I will say this: if this is the end product – bravo!

I purchased my copy shortly after attending a class on this subject with Mary at SF BATS (San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium).  I was very intrigued by the subject, so I thought I better get the book and study deeper.

Although many of us use tarot for divination and self development, this book allows us to look at our personalities through the lens of tarot.  By combining simple numerology  with the cards, you end up with a clear and informative snapshot into your potential, strengths, weaknesses and more.  This gives the reader a road map into their destiny and a powerful tool for self understanding.

Let me show you how it works with my own birthdate (June 11, 1965).  You add up your date as follows:

6

11

1965

_____

1982

Then add up the end results like this:  1 + 9 + 8 + 2 = 20

Now you take that number and find the card that corresponds to that number.  In my case, it would be the Judgment card (part of the 2/11/10 Constellation).  This would be my Personality card.  Greer provides a detailed  description of how this plays out in the personal makeup.  For example, Judgment’s theme is Cosmic Understanding and Spiritual Truth. The Judgment personality is “aware of how they can transcend personal limitations and they seek to transform and take control of things around them”.  This card also has a connection to Pluto and the Moon, which creates a highly psychic aspect as well.

Each card also has a “Hidden Factor” card which acts as a “teacher”.  In my case, it was the Justice card (very interesting as themes of justice often figure prominently in my life).  My combination of cards indicates “a devotion to world harmony” and “psychic ability”.  Intriguing.

This follows with a list of famous people who have the same personal cards which was fun to look through.  I loved seeing who shared similar traits (lots of presidents in my case!).

This is the main meat of the book but there is so much more here: name cards (a cool way to discover the significance of your name and how it affects your personality), techniques for working with the cards (I loved the dialoguing), Soul cards, yearly cards, minors (lessons and opportunities) and more.

Greer even takes time to address the 8-11 controversy. (Strength and Justice were switched in the Rider Waite deck.  The Marseilles deck had Justice as 8 and Strength as 11 originally.)

One thing I would like to add is this: her method of adding up your birthdate is different from other methods.  For example, I have also seen in some texts that you should add it up like this: 6 +1 + 1 + 1 + 9 + 6 + 5 = 29.  If I reduce that, I come to 11 instead of 20 for my Personality card – and this would change the outcome and I would end up with the High Priestess instead of Judgment for my Personality Card.  I only point that out to show that there are other schools of thought regarding the numerology part.  For this book, I am sticking with her method and interpretation, which seemed to work out fine.

This book is a great addition to any tarot collection and I had lots of fun discovering information about myself and my loved ones.  I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in learning how to use the cards to uncover more about their personality.

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

When I was a child, my mother used to say that I “always had my nose in a book”.

This is still true to this day – I am always reading something.  In fact, I collect more books about tarot than actual tarot decks.

There are many great books about tarot on the market today (and more coming out every day).  Here are some of my absolute favorites that I love to recommend:

(This list is not in any particular order nor is this list complete – you may have other favorites or may disagree with my choices.)

1. 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack – deep and rich with information, no list is complete without this book.  If I did have to pick a favorite, this may be it.
2. Learning the Tarot: A Tarot Book for Beginners by Joan Bunning – based on her online course, this book will get any tarot newbie reading the tarot proficiently in no time.
3. 21 Ways To Read a Tarot Card by Mary Greer – novel ideas to expand your tarot skills.
4. The Complete Book of Tarot Reversals by Mary Greer – I’m a fan of reversals (they are not mandatory by the way) and this is THE book for those of us who choose to read upside down.  (Honorable mention:  Joan Bunning also has a good book on reversals, Learning Tarot Reversals)
5. The Complete Tarot Reader by Teresa Michaelson – this book has a massive amount of information – it’s like a little encyclopedia
6. Tarot Masterclass by Paul Fenton-Smith – this book is rarely mentioned but I think it is pure genius.  Not just a tarot primer but also a great section on being a professional tarot reader.  (Honorable mention: Fenton-Smith also has a great beginner’s book, The Tarot Revealed)
7. The Tarot Handbook by Angeles Arrien – featuring the Thoth deck, this book will help you to understand tarot clearly – even if you do not read with the Thoth deck
8. The Way of Tarot by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Marianne Costa – This profound book gets super deep with the Marseille deck.  How I wish I would have had this book when I first started out!
9. Tarot Plain and Simple by Anthony Louis – loads of interpretations and a slant towards  beginners, this is the book I recommend to all my students
10. Understanding the Tarot Court by Mary Greer – face it, the Court cards are one of the hardest suits for any tarotist to master.  Greer spells it all out with clarity.  LOVE this one.
11. Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprenctice by Eileen Connolly – this is the first tarot book I ever got my hands on.  It’s still a treasured favorite.  Some might be put off by her Christian undertones but I find the interpretations to be pure gold.  I love all of her works.
12. Supertarot by Sasha Fenton – although this is out of print, it is worth searching for a copy. The techniques contained within will help you expand your tarot skills.
13. The Secret Language of Tarot by Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone – a fantastic book detailing the symbols in the tarot cards.
14. Tarot for Life by Paul Quinn – A modern book with real life examples of tarot readings, this one will help you bring your readings to life.
15. Best Tarot Practices by Marcia Masino – another great book that tends to be overlooked, this one has novel exercises and good advice on reading tarot professionally.
16. Tarot – Your Everyday Guide by Janina Renee – this book focuses on using tarot for dispensing advice.
17. Beyond the Celtic Cross by Paul Hughes Barlow and Catherine Chapman – a very different approach to tarot – card counting and elemental dignities explained in a conversational format.
18. Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack – once again, Pollack delivers an impeccable and thought provoking book with new insights for the modern tarot reader.
19. Classic Tarot Spreads by Sandor Konraad – I’ve had this book for years and learned many a good spread from it.  (Honorable mentions:  Learning Tarot Spreads by Joan Bunning and Tarot Spreads & Layouts by Jeanne Fiorini)
20. Thursday Night Tarot by Jason Lotterhand – based on the Thursday night talks from Lotterhand, this book will give you some insight into the Kabbalah and how it relates to tarot.  (Honorable mentions:  Tarot and the Tree of Life by Isabel Radow Kliegman for a glimpse on how Kabbalah weaves through the Minor Arcana plus The Tarot Workbook by Emily Peach which is a great Kabbalah/tarot primer for beginners)
21. Tarot Decoded by Elizabeth Hazel – every single dignity and correspondence you can imagine is featured here.
22. Who Are You In The Tarot by Mary Greer – this is a fantastic book that gives deep insights on your personality, life and journey based on your “birth card”.
23. Tarot for Beginners by Barbara Moore – the easiest beginner book out there, this one will appeal to absolute newbies and those who are really sure they can’t “get it”.  Moore shows you that you CAN.
24. Tarot 101 by Kim Huggens – excellent exercises, good reading list suggestions and a unique format make this book one you cannot miss.  Good for all levels.
25. Tarosophy by Marcus Katz – the newest book on the block, I’ve been immersed in it for days now and find it to be hip and modern, full of useful information and exercises – plus it has stuff for all levels (beginner, intermediate and advanced).  It’s a very intellectual book – this is no “tarot for dummies”.

As I stated above, this list is by no means complete.  I revise my list often because although there are the classics that stand the test of time, there are also good things coming out from our talented tarot community constantly.

Happy reading!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady.com

What books do you recommend?  Discuss your favorites in the comment section below:

I’m excited to reveal a new feature that I’ve been working on: The Deck And Book Nook.  This will be a bimonthly post with reviews of different tarot books and decks.  I’ve got a huge appetite for books and you’ll usually find me at home with my nose in one.  I’m more choosy with tarot decks but always open to new perspectives that each unique deck offers .  I aim to offer an honest, unbiased, and detailed description of each deck and/or book that will guide you, the consumer, in making informed choices.

I’ll be posting images to illustrate and will also include links to the authors websites if available.  I also have a “grading” system that will further define my viewpoint (a tongue and cheek nod to Siskel and Ebert):

Two Swords Up – This is an enthusiastic YES!  Buy the product!

One Sword Down/One Sword Up – This is a neutral response – some praise, some criticisms.  May only appeal to some.

Two Swords Down – A big NO.  Too many issues to make it a worthwhile investment. Pass.

I hope that you will find these reviews to be a trusted resource before you open up your pocketbook.  Look for the first review tomorrow!

Blessings!

Theresa

PS If there are any decks or books you’d like to see featured here – please email me your requests and I will try to honor them.  If you are a deck or book author and would like to have me review your creation, please email me to discuss.  I may already have it in my collection!  You can reach me at tarotlady@wi.rr.com.

images courtesy of TaoXproductions